The Angels officially begin life without Shohei Ohtani and with Ron Washington as their manager Thursday when they open the 2024 season in Baltimore against the Orioles.
Ohtani left the Angels after spending the first six seasons of his major league career with them to sign the largest contract in professional sports history with the Dodgers — 10 years for $700 million with $680 million deferred.
However, despite Ohtani accomplishing feats as a two-way player not accomplished since the days of Babe Ruth and being a two-time unanimous selection as the American League’s MVP, the Angels never had a winning record since he joined the team in 2018.
The team’s second consecutive 73-89 season prompted the Angels to decline the option on manager Phil Nevin’s contract and later replace him with Washington, the Atlanta Braves’ third base coach for the previous seven seasons.
Washington managed the Texas Rangers from 2007-14, guiding them to American League pennants in 2010 and 2011.
The Angels have nine new coaches, with bench coach Ray Montgomery the only returning coach from 2023.
The bulk of the Angels’ free agent signing were pitchers, including left-hander reliever Matt Moore, who had a 4-1 record and 2.66 ERA in 41 relief appearances with the Angels in 2023 before being placed on waivers Aug. 29, then briefly pitched for the Cleveland Guardians and Miami Marlins.
With Ohtani being the Angels’ opening day starter each of the past two seasons, that role now goes to left-hander Patrick Sandoval, who will be making the first Opening Day start in a major league career that began in 2019.
The 2015 graduate of Mission Viejo High School was 7-13 with a 4.11 ERA in 2023.
Sandoval is 0-2 with a 3.86 ERA in three starts against Baltimore. Sandoval allowed seven runs (four earned) and seven hits in five innings in his only 2023 appearance against the Orioles and was charged with the loss in a 10-3 defeat Sept. 6 at Angel Stadium.
Right-hander Corbin Burnes will start for Baltimore after being acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers Feb. 1 in exchange for left-handed reliever DL Hall, infielder Joey Ortiz and future considerations.
Burnes was the 2021 National League Cy Young Award recipient and an All-Star selection each of the past three seasons. His 1.069 walks plus hits per inning in 2023 were the fewest among qualifying NL pitchers.
Burnes was 10-8 with a 3.39 ERA in 32 starts in 2023. He made his lone career appearance against the Angels on April 29, 2023, in Milwaukee, allowing one run and five hits in six innings, with five strikeouts, one walk and hitting one batter. He was credited with the victory in the 7-5 victory.
This is the third consecutive season Burnes has started on opening day.
The Orioles had an American League-best 101-61 record in 2023, advancing to the postseason for the first time since 2016 and winning the AL East for the first time since 2014.
A moment of silence will be held honoring the victims of the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge and their families and sharing an appreciation for the first responders.
The March 28 opening day is the earliest in Angels history. Their previous earliest opening day was March 29, 2018.
This is the second time the Angels will open a season against the Orioles. The other time came in their inaugural 1961 season.
The 12:05 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time game will be televised by Bally Sports West.
Following three games in Baltimore and three in Miami, the Angels will play their home opener April 5 against the Boston Red Sox.